Beer and Pretzels: Beer news you may have missed

November 4, 8:51 AMBeer ExaminerCharlie Papazian

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Craft beer emerges in Namibia. Jorge Finkelday, brewmaster and
founder of Camelthorn Brewery in Windhoek, Namibia invites beer
enthusiasts to have a taste of beer Africa. Photo courtesy
Camelthorn Brewery.

While beer pong, light beer sales and the price of beer have been grabbing headlines, here’s a few items that you may have missed in the beerhem.

Montana’s new law that legalizes beer with alcohol up to 14% ABV went in to effect on Oct. 1.  House Bill 400 was approved by an 80% vote of the Montana legislature, who understood that offering more choices to craft beer drinkers was a sensible thing to do.  This law overturned 70 years of lingering prohibition laws in the state that previously capped the limit at 8.75% ABV.  See the Great Falls Tribune coverage.  A beer toast goes to the Montana Brewers Association for the heads up.

American craft beer exported to Sweden continues to rock beer enthusiast’s world. Brewers Association heard from a primary Swedish source, “The craft beer trend is still strong, and sales within Specialty Beers are still growing. It is especially pleasing to see that, even though we have increased both the volumes and the number of launches, the craft beers are literally swept off the shelves within days of launching. The real aficionados are actually qeueing up outside the stores hours before opening, to make sure they get their hands on the rarest releases.”  Among the beers in the specialty and craft beer category are several of American beers from small and independent breweries.

A few Brewers Association Export Program winners in the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival

• British Style Ale-  Gold: Green Lakes Organic Ale brewed by Deschutes Brewing Co;Silver: 5 Barrel Pale Ale brewed by Odell Brewing Co.;Bronze: 90 Shilling brewed by Odell Brewing Co
•  Modern Style Ale (4.8-5.9%) - Gold: Lagunitas IPA brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Co
• Modern Style Ale (6+%) - Gold: A Little Sumpin´ Sumpin´ Ale brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Co; Silver: XXXX IPA brewed by Shipyard Brewing Co.
• Porter/Stout (less than 6%)-  Gold: Black Butte Porter by Deschutes Brewing Co (Brewers Association/Oliver Twist); Bronze: Samuel Adams Cream Stout
•  Specialty Category - Gold: Barrel aged Gonzo brewed by Flying Dog Brewery; Bronze: Wild Devil brewed by Victory Brewing Co

 It was reported that one Swedish beer drinker upon experiencing American craft beers reaffirmed his expectations, " Wow, well I knew things were going to change when Obama got elected"

 From Argentina, Javier Schaerer and Nicolás Felici (president of SOMOS CERVECEROS) report that the 2nd International Craft Beers Meeting was held in Cordoba, in mid August.  Homebrewers gathered to share beers and compete in a homebrew competition. Technical presentations, beer certification program, microbrewery visits and beer enthusiasts were invited to a beer festival and beer exhibits. 

Are you visiting Namibia, Africa anytime soon?  There’s locally brewed craft beer to be enjoyed.  The Camelthorn Brewing Company is brewing American style and Bavarian style ales and lagers.  Namibian citizen and former Fort Collins, Colorado resident invites beer enthusiasts to drop by and enjoy their beers.

From Mexico, Rodolfo Andreu, brewer and founder of microbrewery Cervecería Primus  reports the 2009 Guadalajara Beer Festival was an inaugural success. Homebrew competition and judging took  place as well as a festival of commercially available specialty beers available in Mexico.  Plans are being made for an event in Mexico City. 

Photo left: Beer judging at the Guadalajara Beer Fest 2009 in Mexico. Photo courtesy of Cerveceria Primus.

Finally, did you catch the news in August that “New full-bodied research finds beer drinking increases bone mass in older women?”   

Also see: Homebrewers convene in Mexico